Chichester

Chichester's population increased by about 7,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Chichester increased by 6.9%, from about 106,000 to 114,000.

The addition of about 7,300 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chichester was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chichester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chichester increased by two years, from 44 to 46 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 14.0% of people in Chichester are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Chichester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Chichester was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.2 points.

In 2011, 26.6% of respondents in Chichester gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Chichester, 71.6% said they were Christian, compared with 83.3% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion increased from 7.2% to 7.7%.

In Chichester, 7.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.2% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Chichester increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Chichester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chichester

The percentage of Chichester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.6% to 7.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of Chichester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.9% to 89.0%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Chichester, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Chichester, the proportion of private renting increased from 11.1% in 2001 to 14.9% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10.2% to 16.5%.

The rate of social housing in Chichester remained close to 14.9%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 70.3% to 67.2%.

Private renting in Chichester increased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chichester, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Chichester

The percentage of married people fell in Chichester at a faster rate than in Waverley (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Chichester).

In Chichester, the proportion of married people decreased from 55.8% in 2001 to 52.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Waverley decreased from 56.0% to 55.4%.

Across the South East, the share of married people decreased from 52.8% to 49.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Chichester increased from 24.2% to 27.1%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.9% to 11.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.4% in 2001. The percentage of Chichester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.4% to 13.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chichester decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chichester, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in Chichester, which comprised one person, increased from 30.1% to 32.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.8%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chichester which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 36.7% to 33.9%.

The proportion of one-person households increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30.3%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Chichester

In 2011, 97.0% of Chichester residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.4% of people in Chichester said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.6% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.5%.

the population from one of the White ethnic groups in Chichester decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Chichester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.4% to 3.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in eight (12.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Chichester increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chichester, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chichester with children decreased from 24.6% to 23.7% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 67.7%, while the percentage of households in Chichester with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.8% to 8.1%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chichester residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chichester remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Chichester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Chichester residents that were employed remained close to 48.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.9% in 2001. While the percentage of Chichester residents that were self-employed increased from 13.0% to 14.5%.

The proportion of employed people increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 55.4% in 2001 to 54.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 52.5% to 52.3%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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